* An affairs site has recorded a 31% increase in Gen Z sign-ups (ages 18–25) in the past year.
* A poll of 1,000 Gen-Z members found 71% reject traditional monogamy in favour of ethical non-monogamy or polyamory.
* More than half (53%) say they’re already in open relationships or “situationships.”
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

While the word ‘affair’ might conjure images of a secret rendezvous between married couples, a surprising new trend is emerging: Gen Z are flocking to extramarital dating sites – not out of dissatisfaction in their relationships, but to explore an alternative to traditional monogamy.

New figures from IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, show a 31% rise in sign-ups from 18-25-year-olds over the past 12 months – suggesting that younger generations are increasingly rejecting traditional models of monogamy in favour of more fluid and openly negotiated forms of intimacy.

A poll of 1,000 Gen Z members who joined in the past year revealed that 71% said they do not believe monogamy should be the default expectation in relationships. 

Over half (53%) reported being in open relationships, polycules, or casual “situationships,” while 41% said they signed up purely out of curiosity to explore what ethical non-monogamy could look like for them.

Amelia, 24, from Manchester, said she joined because polyamory was already part of her social circle, “Everyone I know is experimenting with ENM in some form. It’s not taboo anymore – if anything, it’s more honest. I’m not unhappy with my boyfriend, I just wanted to see what else was out there with clear boundaries. For me, the site felt safer than swiping randomly on mainstream apps where people aren’t upfront about what they want.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at  IllicitEncounters.com, said Gen Z’s mindset marks a cultural shift, “Polyamory and ethical non-monogamy used to be considered niche, but for Gen Z, they’re simply part of the dating landscape. This generation values honesty, autonomy and consent above all else, and they’re rejecting the idea that one partner for life is the only valid route.

What’s fascinating is that many Gen Z members aren’t turning to sites like Illicit Encounters because their relationships are failing. They’re joining because they want to explore in a transparent way, often with the knowledge – or even encouragement – of their partners. It’s less about betrayal, more about expansion.”

* Registrations on married dating site IllicitEncounters.com surged in the first week of September.
* The website recorded an 18% year-on-year increase in sign-ups – and 77% of them were parents.
* The 35-44 age bracket, often juggling kids and careers, saw the biggest surge in new users, and women accounted for nearly three-quarters of new registrations (73%)
* Sex and relationships expert says the return to routine after a stressful summer can be a catalyst for infidelity.

As children across the UK returned to classrooms, it wasn’t just pupils starting something new this September. Parents, too, appear to be embarking on fresh adventures – of a more illicit kind.

According to new data from the UK’s largest extramarital dating site, IllicitEncounters.com, the first week of September saw a significant surge in new members.

The affairs dating site has recorded an 18% year-on-year increase in sign-ups in the first week of September – and 77% of sign-ups were parents, suggesting that the return to routine has sparked a new wave of affairs.

This trend was overwhelmingly being driven by women, who accounted for nearly three-quarters of all new registrations last week (73%).

Adults aged 35-44 – a demographic largely comprised of parents with young children – were the most active, making up 31% of all new joiners, followed closely by 25-34 year-olds (24%). 

Sarah*, a 42-year-old marketing manager and mother of two from Surrey who signed up to the affairs site last week, said, “The first day the house was empty, the silence was deafening. For six weeks, I’d been a referee, a chef, and a chauffeur. Suddenly, I was just… me again. And I realised I didn’t have a clue who that was anymore,” she explained. “My marriage had been on autopilot for years. Signing up wasn’t a premeditated decision; it was about finally having the time and mental clarity to do something just for me. It was the first thing I’d done that was entirely my own secret in a decade.”

Jessica Leoni, sex and relationships expert at IllicitEncounters.com, said the “back-to-school effect” is a well-established trend on the site. “This September surge is something we see year after year. Parents, particularly women, go from weeks of constant family time to suddenly having hours of freedom during the school day. That shift creates both opportunity and desire.

“The summer holidays often put huge strain on relationships – routines are broken, stress levels are higher, and any cracks in a marriage become more visible. When September arrives, many women tell us they crave excitement, attention, and a sense of self outside of their roles as mums and wives. Signing up to the site becomes their way of reclaiming that.

“What’s striking about this year is the scale of it – an 18% jump shows that appetite for discreet connections is growing stronger, especially among women in their thirties and forties who are at the heart of family life.”

*Name has been changed

Results
Age breakdown of new users from the 1st to 7th September:
18-24 – 7%
25-34 – 24%
35-44 – 31%
45-54 – 18%
54-64 – 13%
65+ – 7%

* Almost three-quarters (73%) of women surveyed said their affair had improved their mental health, boosting confidence and reducing stress.
* More than six in ten admitted they see their affairs as a form of “self-care” or “me time” to cope with daily pressures.
* Sex and relationships expert says the results show affairs are often used as a coping strategy, not just lust-driven behaviour.
* Study conducted by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s largest extramarital dating site

Women who cheat are reporting better mental health, according to new research which suggests infidelity is increasingly being used as a form of self-care.

A survey of 1,500 women carried out by IllicitEncounters.com, the UK’s leading affairs dating site, found that almost three-quarters (73%) of those who had an affair said it had significantly improved their mental health. Many described reduced stress, higher confidence and a rediscovery of identity outside of their roles as partners, mothers, or employees.

The study also revealed that more than six in ten women see their affairs as a form of “me time” or self-care to help cope with the demands of daily life, while a further 26% said they sometimes felt this way. 

When asked what had led them to stray, the most common drivers were emotional support and understanding (34%), the boost to self-esteem that comes from feeling desired (31%), and stress relief or an escape from routine (22%). Just one in ten said their primary motivation was physical excitement.

For many women, the emotional rewards outweighed the physical. Sarah*, a 42-year-old from Surrey who took part in the survey, explained: “I was drowning in responsibilities – work, kids, the house, and a marriage that had grown cold. I’d lost myself completely.

Having an affair gave me back a part of me I thought was gone forever. It wasn’t just about sex, it was about being seen, heard, and desired. Honestly, it’s been better for my head than any spa weekend.”

Sex and relationships expert Jessica Leoni from IllicitEncounters.com said the findings shine a light on a side of infidelity that is rarely discussed.

“The results challenge the stereotype that affairs are purely about lust or reckless behaviour. For many women, they function as a coping strategy – a way to reduce stress, feel desired and reconnect with their sense of self. While not everyone would view infidelity as a solution, there’s no denying that the women we surveyed overwhelmingly felt it had a positive impact on their mental health.”

Results
Do you view your affairs as a form of ‘me time’ or ‘self-care’ that helps you cope with daily life pressures?
Yes, absolutely: 65%
Sometimes: 26%
No, not really: 9%

What drove you to have an affair?
Emotional support/understanding: 34%
Feeling desired/boost to self-esteem: 31%
Stress relief/escape from routine: 22%
Purely physical excitement: 10%
Other: 3%